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News from the National Office!
From the
Executive DirectorFall 2010 Cherie Brown  Recently I served on a panel at the national staff meeting of the USDOJ CRS---Department of Justice Community Relations Service in Denver, CO. The CRS goes in to a community when there has been overt ethnic tension or unrest, or when there has been a hate crime in the community. Since the passage of the James Byrd Mathew Sheppard Hate Crime bill last year by the Obama administration--the justice department is dealing with hate crimes for the first time related to sexual orientation. A huge step forward. So many of the CRS staff already knew about NCBI and felt so positive about our work. CRS goes into communities and provides “bandaid” service when conflict arises. They are now looking to partner with NCBI to develop our programs in communities so something sustainable is in place after they leave. I left the meeting very empowered about our work and excited about the growing possibilities for new partnerships. Above Photo: Mr. George Henderson- CRS Legal Advisor presenting Award to Cherie for her contribution ---------- NCBI Leader Profile Andi Geu, Bern, Switzerland  Mr. Andi Geu has been working for NCBI Switzerland since 1998. He is the director of the NCBI Bern Chapter in the country's capital Bern for seven years now and he's directing the organization in Switzerland since 2009. Andi Geu has a MA in Philosophy and Sociology and joined NCBI while he was still studying. The main focus of his work with NCBI in the last twelve years was in projects around violence prevention, prejudice reduction, and gender. He launched a very successful project in Switzerland that combines the NCBI methodology and knowledge with the forum theatre methodology of the theatre of the oppressed in order to help people figure out how they can intervene in incidents of violence in the public space. Andi Geu is also the director of the International Men's Constituency of NCBI. Stand Against Racism Submitted by Valerie Ball, NCBI Campus Affiliate at NC State University, Raleigh, NC Recently, the NCBI NC State University team participated in a nationwide event in which over 2000 groups took a stand together to raise awareness of and denounce racism. NC State was proud to partner with the Greater Triangle YMCA to sponsor an inspiring program that promoted equality and diversity in our community. Over 300 people turned out for our event which also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Rev. David Forbes, local pastor and civil rights activist, recounted his youth in a segregated society and drew comparisons with the current Wake Co. School Board leadership which has dissolved the diversity policy…setting the school system ‘back’ in its efforts to promote acceptance, tolerance, and respect for all. To read about the Stand Against Racism nationwide project vist: http://www.standagainstracism.org/2010/ Update on the NCBI Law Enforcement Program Submitted by Fabienne Brooks, Director, Law Enforcement Program NCBI efforts to engage with law enforcement agencies and communities to build coalitions and partnerships have been steadily moving forward. In 2009, Joyce Shabazz, Director, International African Heritage Constituency Caucus, and I presented a two hour workshop in Norfolk, VA at the National Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) conference. We developed many contacts through that presentation and were featured in a local Virginia newspaper. As a result of that workshop, we were again invited to present at their 2010 conference. Also as a result of the newspaper article, NCBI was contacted and asked to present a workshop at the 2010 Virginia Association of Regional Jails (VARJ) in Virginia Beach, VA. With the assistance of Amie Thurber (NCBI Missoula, MT) in developing the presentation, Guillermo Lopez (NCBI LE Program Co-Director) and I conducted a 90 minute preview of NCBI’s law enforcement program. Our presentation received a standing ovation at the conclusion of the workshop. The respective resource teams that were developed through the NCBI - COPS (USDOJ) 2007/2008 grant in Bethlehem, PA and King County (Seattle), WA are making programming progress in their communities. Community members of each team are seeking a meeting with their local law enforcement executive to discuss programming next steps and increasing the level of law enforcement participation. The community members are working with local police agencies to determine how they can best support the sustainability of the program. In 2009, we submitted a grant to the MetLife Foundation’s Community-Police Partnership Awards. We received a polite “thanks, but no thanks” letter. We submitted a grant again in 2010 and the King County site has received an invitation to participate in round two. Over 700 applications were received and only 17% were asked to participate in the second round. Norristown, PA is continues to move forward in terms of developing and improving upon the relationship between their police department and community members. Finally, Easton, PA has entered into a contract with NCBI to develop an after school program guiding students in using their ideas and influence to help inform and transform their local police department of community needs. Read more about the NCBI Law Enforcement Progam here |